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Tuesday, November 12, 2013

It's a couple days late for Veterans' Day, also known as Remembrance Day in many parts of the world. But a friend let me know of this incredible performance by a 13 year old Dutch girl named Melissa Venema.

I hold the people of the Netherlands dear, as I lived there for two years. Mr. Merx was my neighbor and a young boy during the war. He told stories of how the Germans were driven back, inch by inch, by the Allies. He told how an American company came up the road past our house, and how ten went out but only eight came back. This first hand account gave life to this part of history.

Not far from where we lived, over 8,000 American dead are interred in the cemetery at Margraten. Each September, the Dutch hold a memorial service to honor the men who died to liberate their country. The following is a link to Melissa's rendition of Taps. There is a poignant history behind the music that I may relate another time. Meanwhile, follow this link to listen to this incredibly emotional performance, played in the old Roman plaza in Maastricht.

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About Me

G. Thomas Gill, Tom to his friends, is himself a well traveled adventurer. Having lived in Michigan, Ohio, Wyoming, Louisiana, and the Netherlands, Tom settled in Florida with his wife. An army vet, he served at a NATO headquarters where he was introduced to counter-espionage tactics. In civilian life, he worked on projects that gave him access to top secret facilities such as Los Alamos, Sandia, and Livermore Laboratories. Tom draws on his travels and experience to craft stories of suspense and intrigue that transport readers to some of the lesser known corners of the world.
You can contact Tom at gtg1130@gmail.com